P400 class patrol vessel

The Tapageuse
Class overview
Name:	P400
Builders:	Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie
Operators:	Marine Nationale  Gabon Navy  Marinha do Brasil
Succeeded by:	Modified D'Estienne d'Orves class [1]
In commission:	18 September 1986
Active:	10: Audacieuse, Boudeuse, Capricieuse, Fougueuse, Glorieuse, Gracieuse, Moqueuse, Railleuse, Rieuse , Tapageuse
General characteristics
Type:	patrol ship
Displacement:	373 t tonnes
Length:	54,8 m
Beam:	8 m
Draught:	2,54 m
Propulsion:	Engines : 2 diesel SEMT Pielstick 200PAVGDS 3,700 hp (2,800 kW) each 7,400 hp (5,500 kW), 2 inversor-reductors, 2 fixed-blade propellers Electrical plant: 3 GE Poyaud Jeumond (120 kW each)
Speed:	24 knots (44 km/h)
Boats and landing craft carried:	1 EFRC 10 seats 1 EFR 10 seats
Complement:	29
Sensors and processing systems:	UHF, VHF, HF, 1 DECCA 1226, 1 OMEGA M6, MF CRM 4215 radiogoniometer, shallow water tester, Ben LMN3 loch, CGM4 gyroscopic compass
Armament:	Bofors 40 mm gun 20 mm modèle F2 gun 2 AA-52 machine guns

The P400 patrol ships are small vessels of the French Navy. They were designed to accomplish police operations in the large French Exclusive Economic Zone.

The P400 were built by the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, which specialise in small military craft (they also built the Combattante, two swift "Patra" patrol boats, and numerous Combattante I and Combattante III missile attack craft, such as the FACM Class La Combattante III).

Two similar ships are in service in Gabon.

The P400 were originally designed in two versions: one armed with Exocet MM38 missiles, and another public service version with a smaller 16-man complement; eventually neither of these versions was commissioned, the Navy choosing an intermediary version.

Most of these craft are pre-positioned in overseas territories (DOM/TOM) where they carry out sea monitoring missions and secured the EEZ. They also execute missions in the context of French agreements with other nations, typically supporting foreign armies or carrying out humanitarian missions.

Since late 2008, ships of the D'Estienne d'Orves class, with their heavy armament removed, are planned to replace the P400 in the high sea patrol role, a task for which the P400 have proved to be underweight. [2]

Design

The P400 are fitted with a hydraulic crane capable of lifting 2,5 tonnes. This allows to use them for anti-pollution operations, by embarking and debarking equipment and anti-pollution chemicals, and to lift out small craft whilst at sea.

An unusual feature for ships of this size, the Operational Centre allows a complete monitoring of close surface situations, using radar indicators and tracking tables.

The engine can now be monitored remotely, which allows for a smaller crew. The maintenance of the ship was simplified notably by choosing those solutions which allow to clean the ship whilst in populated areas.

The P400 can stay 15 days at sea, and have 20 days of food supplies for 28 men.

History

The engines of the P400 have been a constant source of technical problems since the maiden journey of the lead ship Audacieuse to Dakar.

The first problem that occurred related to the carter reductor, then with the transmission, and eventually with a piston -- this last item being the most worrying, since it was probably a symptom of a conception problem. This shed a bad light on Alstom who were trying to compete against German motors by MTU. French humourist Coluche came up with the witty remark Après l'Audacieuse, la Boudeuse, la Capricieuse,… voici venu le temps de la Dépanneuse ! (After the Audacieuse, the Boudeuse, the Capricieuse, time has come for the Tow-Truck!).

After these problems were solved, larger exhaust pipes had to be fixed (originally, exhaust was vented underwater to minimise infra-red signature, but it turned out that the ship was taking water from these openings).

After further studies, it became possible to gain the space of one propulsion compartment, which is now used for cargo and personnel. The ships can ferry 20 people, and up to 60 for short travel with a calm sea.

In May 2009, Fougueuse arrived in Brest to be decommissioned, the first of the P400 to be taken out of service.^[1]

In February 2011, it was decided that 8 P400 will be equipped with new engines. Previously, these ships were scheduled to retire according to Jane's Navy International. They will repair to ensure renewal of their operation until 2020. Earlier, the French Navy had intended to retire these ships in the period from 2010 to 2014. The reason for extending the service life of ships of this class is the desire to reduce the cost of procurement of new weapons.

Currently the ships are equipped with two diesel engines «SACM-Vartsila» UD30 V16 M3. The new engines will be delivered to France's Mother Boda and installed by "Piriu Naval Service» (PNS - Piriou Naval Services) in a 10-year contract worth 30 million euros (39 million dollars). The first of the modernized ships should be returned to the French Navy by March 2011. PNS also undertakes restoration of these ships.^[2]

• 

  Fougueuse awaiting decommission near Recouvrance Bridge in summer 2009

Ships

• P682 Audacieuse (Degrad des Cannes)
• P683 Boudeuse (La Réunion)
• P684 Capricieuse (Degrad des Cannes)
• P685 Fougueuse (Fort-de-France)
• P686 Glorieuse (Nouméa)
• P687 Gracieuse (Fort-de-France)
• P688 Moqueuse (Nouméa)
• P689 Railleuse (Papeete)
• P690 Rieuse (La Réunion)
• P691 Tapageuse (Papeete)

References

1. ^ Le patrouilleur La Fougueuse rentre à Brest pour être désarmé
2. ^ French Navy refused to write-off of training ships